Typewriting machine



Sept. 8, 1931.

F. A. GREIS- TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 1928 Patented Sept. 8, 193! UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK A. GREIS, OF L'YNBROOK, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD ELLIOTT FISHER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE TYPEWBI'DING MACHINE.

Application filed October 3, 1928. Serial No. 309,947.

This invention relates to typewriting machines equipped for typing index-cards and other Work-pieces, upon which it is desired to type an address at the extreme top edge It is usual to insert the card at the front of the platen and pass it down, bottom first, until thetop border has descended to the printing line of the machine. Sometimes the platen is rotated backwardly, for carrying the card down. In some cases a long card is inserted head-first at the back of the platen, and the latter is rotated forwardly to bring the card around under the platen and up in front until the top border of the card reaches printing position. In either case there is necessary considerable manipulation of the card or the platen or both; and much time-consuming adjustment is found necessary. Sometimes gages are used for the bottom edge of the card, and some- I times for the top edge, but bottom gages are often unsatisfactory, partly because they do not answer for different sizes of cards; and top-edge gages require undue attention to be given to the manipulation of the cards.

Moreover the card has to curve around the platen, and it is found that the top edge of the card is not properly supported against the platen. The card being still tends (when curved) to bulge away at its top edge from the platen, and it is impracticable to hold the top of the card against the platen by means of any device that engages the top edge of the card, because the types would strike said holding device, and hence the address could not be written at the very top edge of the card. This trouble is accentuated when the entire body of the card is curved around the platen in order to bring its top edge to printing osition: The difliculty is, especially noticed in typewriting machines of the portable class, in which the diameter of the platen is small, and the card must be bent more. More- 'over considerable time is lost in manipulating any devices that are used for holding the top border of the card firmly against the platen. The card cannot be permitted to bulge from the platen, because the typeimpressions will be blurred and unsatisfacwithdrawn. This is simply an insertin and withdrawing operation, requiring no a justment or truing or manipulation of either card or platen, and great saving of time and labor is effected. f

In order to render this card-typing operation possible, the types are placed up-sidedown upon the usual type-bars, and hence print up-side-down upon the card. When the latter is removed from the machine and turned around to proper position, the line wilL be found properly and legibly typed thereon.

In order to make the use of inverted t pes feasible, provision is made for lettereeding the typewriter-carriage in the reverse of the usual direction, that is, from left to right in ordinary round-platen machines. This reverse feeding compensates for or rectifies the inversion of the types in the machine,-and the inversion of the t es rectifies the inversion of thecard, an hence by manipulation of the typewriterkeys, in the ordinary manner, the address is roperl typed upon the top" edge of the card, whic is brought directly to the printing line by a simple insertion of the card, and is withdrawn by a simple stroke of the hand. A suitable gage is provided in the machine for the top edge of the inverted card, and there are also preferably provided suitable side gages for the card.

The card at the printing operation can be entirely or almost entirely in fiat or unsprung condition, that is to say, it needs to be bent very little if at all around the platen. At most, it needs to be bent only sufiiciently are used. Inasmuch as the card is not only capital-letters thereon, then all liabil ity of offsetting of the types is avoided. Moreover the card may be inserted in the machine in perfectly flat and straight con dition with no tendency in its middle por- -tion to bow away from the platen.

Since each type-bar preferably carries upper and lower case types, and since the type blocks are in inverted positions on the typebars, it is preferably provided that the platen shall normally occupy its upper position, so that the lower-case types will normally print. Upon depression of the case shift key, the platen is lowered to enable the capital-types to print.

The reverse letter-feeding of the carriage is effected by inserting reverse-gear train between the usual carriage-rack'pinion and the usual escapement-wheel.

The carriage may be propelled from left to right by the usual carriage spring-barrel, with the aid of a movement reversing pulley over which the spring-strap carried.

There is illustrated a four-row Underwood portable typewriting machine, although the invention may be applied to a great variety of machines.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, I

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the carriage of a four-row portable machine, showing a card inserted therein in typing position, and also showing the means for letterfeeding the carriage from left to right.

Figure 2 is an enlarged diagram, showing the inverted arrangement of the type-blocks upon the tips of the swinging type-bars.

Figure 3 is a plan, showing features seen in Figure 1.

Figure 4: is a perspective, showing an inverted card inserted head-first in the machine preparatory to writing with inverted types upon the top edge. This view shows top and side edge gages for the card.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken from front to rear through the typewriting machine.

Type-keys 10 are depressed to operate levers 11, which by means of bell-cranks 12 and links 13 swing type-bars 14 upwardly about pivots 15, so that type-blocks 16 on the tips of the bars may strike rearwardly' against the front of a platen 17.

The platen is mounted by an axle 18 in a carriage 19, running upon front ball-bearings 20 and rear roll 21, and propelled by a spring-barrel 22, from which extends a strap 23 running around a pulley 2i journaled at 25 upon a support 26. The strap runs around the pulley and then back at 27 and is connected at 28 to the left-hand end of the carriage 19, thereby propelling the carriage from left to right.

At each stroke of a key-lever, a universal bar 29 is depressed, and an arln 30, connected thereto, vibrates forwardly and swings a dog-rocker 31, whose dogs 32 work in and out of notches 33 of a toothed escape merit-wheel 31, pivoted at its usual place in an Underwood machine upon shaft 35. Also upon the shaft is a pinion 36, forming part of a reverse ear-train. Pinion 36 meshes with pinion 31, which is fixed upon a shaft 38, the latter carrying a pinion 39 in mesh with a rack -10 provided upon the carriage. This rack, with the carriage, moves from left to right, when permitted by feed-dogs 32, under control of universal bar 29 and keys 10.

The type-blocks 16 are in inverted positions upon the type-bars 14: as at Figure 2, and therefore print upside down upon a work-card 41, Figure l.

\Vhere capital-types 16 and lower-case types 16 are employed upon the type-bars, the platen may usually occupy its upper position as at 17, seen in dotted lines in Figure 5. \Vhen it is desired to print a capital-letter, a shift-key 42 may be de pressed, thereby depressing a lever 43, whose rear end 44 rises, thereby vibrating a sublever 15, whose rear end depresses an arm 16 forming part of a platenshift frame, other usual portions of said frame being indicated at -17, 48 and 49.

The platen-carriage feeds to and fro upon said frame, and is guided thereby, and also shifted up and down thereby. As long as the shift-key 42 is held depressed, the capital-letters 16 will print. This key may be held down mechanically by means of the usual locking key 50, Figure 5.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that it is only necessary to set a card down in front of the platen as far as it will go, and

card, and, for purpose of illustration, there is shown a cardholder which is self-clamping upon the platen, although other types of cardholders may be used. In some cases the card may be held upon the platen by the aid of the usual front scale or wingscale, not shown, which remains stationary while the carriage travels, and which may extend up above the printing line on the card, without preventing the typing of the card, andfwith the-efiectrot.holdingthe card.

even more firmly against..theplaten'at the point of typing. 7

which are formsHoreclasps 52, .which encircle the platen and-may beformedintegralwith the body orgoross-bar .5l -.--Th ese clasps 52 are.springy; andcurvemorethan: half;

Way around the platem'rthus, rendering the:

card-holder isel;frclaspingand self-retaining, W

other therebyafi'ording agripifor the purf poses-of controllingthe movementsfof the carriage; Handle 64 is not used unless itisupon-the platen.

The plat ndoesano ota d, if only ,a single line isi-to. be written von the. card. I f: it. is desiredato; write :a 'few line?- the usual line-spacing mechanism indicate at 53, 6et-, may:. be 6111p ljoyed. Wl1'eel=53 is; controlled. by the usual. detent 54 andother devices. The platennnaybe rotated back-.

Wardly by the" gu'sual knob =55',. for effecting such line-spacing as may be required; and

the card-holder 51, 52 will be carried around by the platen.

A gage for the printed edge of the inverted card may include two shoulders 56 extending towards each other from the platen-clasping portions 52 of the cardholder. These shoulders form edges or abutments of sufiicient thickness to serve as a gage down against which the card may be thrust.

The card may be held against the platen with sufficient firmness by means of yieldable fingers 57 secured upon the card-holder, one at each side of the card. These fingers engage the side edges of the card, and are spaced sufficicntly apart to permit of writing upon the card. The fingers may have a forward flare at the top, as at 58, to make'an opening to facilitate the introduction of the card between the guide-fingers and the platen.

There may be also formed side-edge gages 59 forthe card, Figure 4, so that the card maybe inserted and mechanically located in exact writing position without loss of time. These side-edge gages may be more apart than the uiding fingers 57, but not so far apart as t e clasps 52, and they may be termed by cutting'the clasps to the required shape. In so doing, an oblique guiding portion 60 may be provided to lead .the card down between the side gages 59.

Ifonly capital-letters are to be employed in themachine, the frame 46, 47, 48 may be fixed permanently in its uppermost position. Preferably, however, said frame and the carriage are retained in said uppermost position by a spring 61, which is coiled about a transverse rock-shaft 62, usually forming part. of the carriage-shift frame in portable typewriters.

For each line typed upon a card, it is necessary to return the carriage to the left,

preparatory beginning'theftyping of a...

newline; and this leftward movement may" befefl'ected by mean's'of a finger-piece orjfi eg 3.fixed..et.the lett-he de d o thecarriage. A carriage-return i ngv line-spacing handle is commonly in-usein. the well-knownthreerow Underwood portab le.typewriting ma; chine, .as indicated diagrammaticallyfby dot 7 ted lines at .64,.Figure1. It is, placed to; the 7 left of said finger -piecesy63, position to;

,enable them to be pinched, toward each I desired to line-space the card! It maylinespace the platen backwardly, the teeth. of.

wheel -"53 being formed. reversely for this purpose, and any suitable drive-pawl being employed between the carriagereturning.

handle 64 andthe reversed.ratched-wheel 53.

Variations may befresorted to within the scope of the inven tio1 1, .and portions of the improvementsmay be used without others. Having thus describedmy invention, I claim: v j 1. In a ,typewriting machine,the combina tion with a platen,.a platen-carriage and a system of inverted ty es to strik e'upon the I i platen, ofmeans for, etter-feeding the car; riage 1n reversedlrect on, and a gageon said carriage in front of the platen to gage v the head edge of an inverted card in print ingpositio I g 2. In a typewriting machine, the combina-f tion with a platen, a platen-carriageand a system of invertedjtypes tostrike upon the platen, of means for letter-feedingthe carf riage in reverse d rection, and a gage on said carriage in front of the platen to gage the head edge ofaninverted card" in printing position, said gage being placed at the prlnting line to permit the impressions to-be made upon theextreme, edge of the card.'

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with. a platen, a platen-earriagea'nd system of inverted types to strike'upon the platen, of'means for letter feeding theic'an' riage in reverse direction, a gage onsai'd v carriage in frontof the platen to gage the} head edge of an; inverted card in printing osition andcarduidin 'meansextendin up from the printing line and open at'theh 'fi l j. top to permit the card. to be thrust down head first between the platen and said gulch ing means to said gage.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combin'a tion with a. platen, a platen-carriage 'and a j I system of inverted types to strike upon'the platen, of "means for letter-feeding the can riage 1n reyerse dlrectlon. a gage on said carriage in front of the platen to gage the head edge of an inverted cardiin printing'positiim,

said gage being placed at therp rintingline to permit the mpressions to beimade upon I the extreme edge of the card, and side-edge gages for said card.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a platen-carriage and a system of inverted types to strike upon the 7 platen, of means for letter-feeding the carriage in reverse direction, a gage on said carriage in front of the (platen to gage the head'edge of an inverte card in printing position, said gage being placed at the printmg line to permit the impressions to be made u n the extreme edge of the card, sidee ge ges'for'said card, and flaring means directing the card to said side-edge gages,

6. ha typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a platen-carriage and a system of inverted ty es to strike upon the platen, of'means for etter-feeding the carriage in reverse direction, and a gage on said carriage in front of the platen to gage the head edge of an inverted card in printing position, self-clasping means being mounted upon said platen and having said means to said ga to permit the card to be thrust down, headfirst, betweenthe platen and said guiding and yielding fingers upon said card-guide to hold the card by its side borders.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a platen-carriage and a system of inverted t pes to strike upon the platen, of means or letter-feed ing the carriage in reverse direction, a gage on said carriage in, front of the laten to gage -the head edge of an inverte card in prlnting position, card-guiding means extending up from the printing line and open at the top to permit the card to be thrust down, head first, between the platen and said lguiding means to said gage, and yielding ngers u on said card-guide to hold the card by its side borders, said fingers each having a forward flare at its. top.

FREDERICK A. GBEIS.

tion with a platen, a platen-carriage and a system of inverted types to strike upon the platen, of means for letter-feeding the carriage in reverse direction, and a leadingedge gage'in front of the platen to gage the head edge of a card in printing position, said card-ga e in the form of a body having on its en s curved horns or clasps to clasp the platen, and also having an edge portion constituting said leading-edge gage.

9; In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a platen-carriage and a system of inverted ty s to strike upon the platen, of means for tter-feeding the carriage in reverse direction, and a leadingedge ga e in front of the platen to gage the he edge of a card in printing position, said card-ga inthe form of a body having on its en s curved horns or clasps to clasp the platen, and also having an edgeportion constituting said leading-edge gage, and also having a side-portion constituting a side-edge gage.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a platen-carriage and a system of inverted types to strike upon the platen, of means for letter-feeding the ear riage in reverse direction, a gage on said carriagein front of the laten to gage the head edge of an inverted card in printing osition, card-guiding means extending up mm the printing line and open at the top 

